Page 39 of The Focal Point

“Oh, not much—”

The note of sadness to her tone made me sit up, the email forgotten yet again. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

It took Bailey a moment to answer, and when she did, her voice was quiet. “I didn’t get that big bid.”

“The one you presented at the meeting yesterday?” I asked.

“Yes, that one.”

I felt bad for her. I could hear the disappointment in her voice. But at the same time, I was thrilled for the simple fact she had called me, ostensibly because she was disappointed and needed to share it with someone. Was it possible that someone was me? The idea was beyond thrilling.

“I’m sorry. That sucks,” I replied, keeping my tone tightly controlled. The last thing I wanted to do was make her think I was enjoying her misery.

A sigh echoed across the line. “It does. A part of me really wanted it. It would have been a big deal and put me on the map. But I guess another part of me feels relief because it would have been more than I could handle by myself. I would have less free time than I do now. Which is almost non-existent. So—”

“Well, it still sucks.” I closed the email, giving up all pretense of finishing it. It had waited this long, and it could wait another half an hour or so.

“I guess I didn’t want the job. Just the validation that I am good at what I do. That I’m not just some small-time designer without much talent.”

The phrase and how Bailey said it made me sit up, anger welling. I had never met her ex, but after hearing the stories about him, I was positive I heard him in the shadows of her self-doubt and criticism.

“This has nothing to do with talent, Bailey,” I said, more sharply than I had meant it to, but it made my chest tight to hear her put herself down like that. Especially when it echoed with the putdowns of someone who was supposed to have loved and treasured her for all that she was. All the incredible things I saw in her every time we were together.

The other side of the line was silent, and I wondered if I had upset her. But I continued, anyway.

“Bailey, you’re so incredibly talented and driven in a world where most people out there aren’t. I say this because as the owner of a tech firm, I know. But more than that, you own your own business, clients love your work, and you were even featured in a magazine article. You’re more than enough, Bailey. One bid doesn’t prove anything. In fact, my company lost a bid this morning, and it won’t be the last one, either.”

Silence greeted my words, and I wondered if I had said something wrong or gone too far. But then I heard a soft sniff and Bailey's voice, watery, saying, “You lost a bid this morning?”

“Yep. Tom’s been moping around the office this morning, according to my assistant, but I know it happens. It’s not personal—just the way it happens in business.”

She giggled again with another small sniff. “Well, anyway, it still means I don’t have any work for now. I’m starting a project in the spring, but I don’t have a client in the wings. I guess I was clearing my schedule just in case this came up, and it was the only thing I could focus on. I’d better dig one up fast, or I’ll be in trouble.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, perfect, because I have another house for you to work on.”

My eyes widened in surprise at the words coming out of my mouth. Had I just blurted that out? What house? I had no house and no plan.

This time, Bailey’s giggle had an edge of disbelief. “Seriously? What do you do, collect houses?”

“Something like that,” I muttered, burying my head in my hands. Okay, now even I had to agree—this was getting ridiculous.

“Okay, well, since it’s Friday, we can schedule an appointment for Monday or whenever you’re free.”

“Yep,” I answered. “I’ll have Gloria call Kristen and set it up.”

“Sounds good.” A pause, and then Bailey said, “Thanks, Liam. I was feeling pretty crappy, but now I feel better.”

That, at least, had me smiling. “I’m glad.”

And then we hung up, and reality set in.

“Shit,” I muttered, up and out of my chair like a shot.

Tom looked up as I barreled into his office without so much as a knock, his gaze going to my face before his brow knotted in concern.

“You okay? You look like something is wrong.”

“I know I’m an idiot, but you need to come with me.”